Papers of Robert Burns Woodward, 1873-1980, 1930-1979
Overview
Robert Burns Woodward (1917-1979), American chemist, Harvard professor, and 1965 Nobel Prize winner, is noted most for his work in organic synthesis.
Dates
- Creation: 1873-1980
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1930-1979
Creator
Conditions on Access
Access restrictions apply to portions of this collection.
Extent
70.5 cubic feet (224 containers)Biography of Robert Burns Woodward
Robert Burns Woodward (1917-1979), American chemist, Harvard professor, and 1965 Nobel Prize winner, is noted most for his work in organic synthesis.
Woodward was born in Quincy, Massachusetts, on April 10, 1917, the son of Arthur and Margaret Woodward. He received his elementary and high school education in Quincy public schools, and was graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1937 with both B.S. and Ph.D. degrees. In 1938 Woodward came to Harvard as private assistant to Professor E. P. Kohler and was soon thereafter appointed to the Society of Fellows. In 1941, he became an instructor in chemistry, progressing to an appointment as full professor in 1950. Woodward was appointed Morris Loeb Professor of Chemistry in 1953, and held the Donner Professorship of Science from 1960 until his death on July 8, 1979.
The following chronology of his work was adapted from that provided by his daughter Crystal Woodward in Art and Elegance in the Synthesis of Organic Compounds: Robert Burns Woodward published in Creative Peogle at Work, Oxford University Press, 1989.
Professional Chronology of Robert Burns Woodward
- 1934 Publishes first scientific paper
- 1940-1942 Publishes four papers on rules for the correlation of ultraviolet spectroscopy with molecular structure; known as the Woodward Rules
- 1942 Writes early paper on the Diels-Alder reaction
- 1944 Completes synthesis of quinine
- 1945-1956 Determines the structure of penicillin, patulin, strychnine, terramycin, aureomycin, and magnamycin
- 1951 Synthesis of the steroids cholesterol and cortisone
- 1954 Synthesis of strychnine and lysergic acid
- 1956 Synthesis of reserpine
- 1960 Completes synthesis of chlorophyll, which took four years
- 1963 Begins work at the Woodward Research InstituteSynthesis of cephalosporin C
- 1965-1969 Development of the laws of the conservation of orbital symmetry, with Roald Hoffman
- 1972 Synthesis of vitamin B12 completed with A. Eschenmoser
Professional Chronology of Robert Burns Woodward
- 1934
- Publishes first scientific paper
- 1940-1942
- Publishes four papers on rules for the correlation of ultraviolet spectroscopy with molecular structure; known as the Woodward Rules
- 1942
- Writes early paper on the Diels-Alder reaction
- 1944
- Completes synthesis of quinine
- 1945-1956
- Determines the structure of penicillin, patulin, strychnine, terramycin, aureomycin, and magnamycin
- 1951
- Synthesis of the steroids cholesterol and cortisone
- 1954
- Synthesis of strychnine and lysergic acid
- 1956
- Synthesis of reserpine
- 1960
- Completes synthesis of chlorophyll, which took four years
- 1963
- Begins work at the Woodward Research Institute
- Synthesis of cephalosporin C
- 1965-1969
- Development of the laws of the conservation of orbital symmetry, with Roald Hoffman
- 1972
- Synthesis of vitamin B12 completed with A. Eschenmoser
Series and Subseries in the Collection
- Biographical, Personal, and Family
- ___Biographical folder
- ___News clippings
- ______Scrapbooks of news clippings
- ______Loose news clippings
- ______Reprints
- ___Research Corporation Award
- ___Family papers
- ___Robert Burns Woodward personal
- ______Early personal correspondence
- ______Late personal correspondence
- ______Restricted personal papers
- ___Visitors' book from Woodward's office
- ___60th birthday celebration
- ___Photographs
- ______Photographic prints
- ______Photographic negatives
- ______ Large-format photographs
- ______ Transparencies and slides
- ______Unidentified slides
- ______Photograph albums
- ___Audio tapes
- ___Motion pictures
- Research
- ___Subject files
- ___Students and research fellows
- ___Papers written by Robert Burns Woodward
- Records of the Woodward Research Institute
- ___Subject files
- ___Personnel
- ___Research reports
- ___New substances
- Academia
- ___Early subject files
- ___Late subject files
- ___Department and university subject files
- ___Postdoctoral and graduate students
Acquisitions Information
- Accession 09610; received 3 December 1982 from Woodward Family
- Accession 10968; received 25 November 1986 from Eric Woodward
- Accession 13012; received 5 December 1984 from International Management
Online access
Two items from this collection have been digitized and are available online. Links to the online images accompany the item descriptions.
Inventory update
This document last updated 2016 October 7.
Creator
- Title
- Woodward, R. B. (Robert Burns), 1917-1979. Papers of Robert Burns Woodward : an inventory
- Author
- Harvard University Archives
- Language of description
- und
- EAD ID
- hua06001
Repository Details
Part of the Harvard University Archives Repository
Holding nearly four centuries of materials, the Harvard University Archives is the principal repository for the institutional records of Harvard University and the personal archives of Harvard faculty, as well as collections related to students, alumni, Harvard-affiliates and other associated topics. The collections document the intellectual, cultural, administrative and social life of Harvard and the influence of the University as it emerged across the globe.
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